The raw nerves and excitement that accompanied Marshall Warren’s NHL debut back in October are no longer a factor, but until Tuesday, there was still another box for the Long Island native to check: his first game at home.
By sheer coincidence, the defenseman’s first three games with the Islanders — two in October and one Saturday — had all come on the road, so Tuesday’s 2-1 win over the Devils was the first chance for many of his friends from Laurel Hollow, the North Shore village in Oyster Bay, to see Warren suit up for his childhood team.
“I think some of my boys have a section,” Warren said before skating 14:24 in the win. “Eighteen tickets somewhere. I’m sure they’ll be loud and cheering for me, which is cool. Obviously, since I’ve been home, just seeing some of my friends and family, spending time with my parents. It’s been nice. It’s always comfortable when you’re home. Fortunate to be able to do that.”
The 18 friends Warren mentioned was not the sum total of everyone he had at the game. There was also his family and other friends in different sections, the sum total of which Warren couldn’t say.
Though the Islanders are putting him up in a hotel, Warren said he’s gone home often to see his parents or to do laundry.
Keeping that setup intact and sticking with the Islanders as long as possible is Warren’s immediate task. The 24-year-old has made a solid impression across his four games, but the Islanders have rotated through options on the left side of the third pair since Alexander Romanov got hurt just over a month ago, with Travis Mitchell and Adam Boqvist getting extended looks as well.
“Played really well,” coach Patrick Roy said. “He’s fast, he skates well, he sees the ice well. I really love the way he played today.”
Cal Ritchie went to the dressing room during the first period after, he said, “tweaking something I’ve been dealing with,” adding that it’s not a serious issue.
Upon his return, Patrick Roy flipped Ritchie and Jean-Gabriel Pageau in the lineup, putting Ritchie with Jonathan Drouin and Emil Heineman.
Max Shabanov returned to the Islanders’ lineup after being a healthy scratch in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the Sabres, with Max Tsyplakov drawing out.
Mat Barzal missed a third consecutive morning skate with maintenance, but played against the Devils.
Bo Horvat (lower body) participated in morning skate with a red non-contact jersey.
